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Gloria Begay holds up her rug, 'Making Bread.'

Its journey began nearly two centuries ago in the land of the Navajo. Rich in earthy hues of the desert Southwest, the blanket's intricate woven patterns of red, dark blue and tan represent a high level of skill and artistic ability. Now on permanent display at the Ute Indian Museum, the blanket is part of an exhibit honoring Chipeta, wife of Chief Ouray. Although the Utes were not known for their weaving skills, they frequently obtained blankets as trade items from other tribes and gave them as gifts. Crossing cultural boundaries, Chipeta gave this small hand-woven Navajo blanket as a gesture of friendship and her love for children to 2-year-old Una Wheeler in 1876. Una lived with her parents at the (second) Los Pinos Indian Agency located south of present-day Montrose. The blanket remained with the family for three generations, and in 1999, was donated back to the Ute Indian Museum for preservation.....

Read more at -  http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2009/06/29/news/doc4a480f9d6749d750591673.txt